Fixing system for copy machine



July ll, 1967 A. R. VIL

FIXING SYSTEM FOR COPY MACHINE Original Filed Nov. l 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 R Y m L N l R w v. m m R r wm m m 0&0 :M: 1 l M fr HMUIIIU 00M 1\\.|\ \I\l.\l \|\I\.\. .L

A. R. VIL

FIXING SYSTEM FOR COPY MACHINE July ll, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. l 1963 5 m n Tm m wv m WR. m E -n m H Y B July 1l, 1967 A. RM1. 3,330,189

FIXING SYSTEM FOR COPY MACHINE Original' Filed Nov. 1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR TTORNEYS United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fixing system `for a copying machine having a liquid developing system in which a pair of ducts each having a perforated wall are mounted with the Walls in closely spaced relationship to form a narrow space in the fixing zone. A pair vof narrow belts extending through the space adjacent the transverse edges of the zone support and convey a developed sheet of copy material through the zone. Air supplied to the ducts provides a plurality of jets of air directed against the exposed upper and under sheet surfaces to break up the vapor film thereon and dry the sheet.

This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 320,862, filed November l, 1963.

My invention relates tova fixing system for a copy machine and more particularly to a fixing system for rapidly and expeditiously drying copies produced by the machine.

Many forms of copying machines are known in the prior art. In one machine of the prior art a sheet of copy paper receives a latent electrostatic image of the original. The image thus produced then is subjected to the action of toner particles mixed with a carrier. It has been suggested that the image be developed by passing the copy paper through a liquid developer containing particles of toner which are picked up by the charged areas on the copy paper. It will readily be appreciated that after having passed through the liquid, the copy paper is wet. It is, of course, desirable that a dry copy be delivered to the operator of the machine. Moreover, in order that the machine achieves its full capacity for producing copies, the drying operation should be carried out as rapidly as is possible without danger of scorching the copy.

I have invented a fixing system for a copy machine which dries the copy in a rapid and expeditious manner. My fixing system accomplishes this result without danger of scorching the paper. My system effectively breaks up the stagnant film of toner vapor on the paper.

One object of my invention is to provide a fixing system for drying copies in a rapid and expeditious manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fixing system for a copy machine which dries copies without adversely affecting the same.

A further object of my invention is to provide a fixing vsystem for a copy machine which effectively breaks up the stagnant film of vapor clinging to the copy paper.

i Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

In general my invention contemplates the provision Patented July 11, 1967 of a fixing system for a copy machine in which I transport the damp copy through a fixing zone in which I direct a plurality of jets of relatively high-velocity heated air over both surfaces of the paper to break up the vapor film clinging to the paper effectively to produce a dry copy.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views;

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of one form of copy machine on which I may use my fixing system.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional View of a portion of my fixing system.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of my fixing system.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of my fixingA system taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, one form of copying machine, indicated generally -by the reference character 10, 4with which I may use my fixing system comprises a housing top `12 carried by a bottom 14. When the machine is turned on, a sheet of copy paper is moved fro-m the supply 16 to the nip between a pair of feed rolls 18 and 20. When the paper occupies a predetermined position, the copy paper drive is interrupted until the original is inserted in the machine through an opening 22 to feed rolls 24 and 26. Rolls 24 and 26 advance the original until it actuates a switch (not shown) to reestablish the copy paper feed drive. When this is done, the copy paper and the original move in synchronism respectively through the copy paper transport system, indicated generally by the reference character 28, and the original transport system indicated generally by the reference character 30.

The system 30 carries the original around past a window 32 and to a gate 34 which directs the original to a return tray 36. If multiple copies are to be made, gate 34 is operated to recirculate the original.

In the course of this movement through the machine, the sheet of copy paper passes through a corona housing 38 and past a windowl 40. The system 28 then moves the copy paper upwardly to a developing system indicated generally by the reference character 42. In passing by the window 40 the copy paper, which has received an electrostatic charge from the system 38, receives an image of the original to be copied. The' image causes the charge to leak ofic over the lighter areas so that the paper then carries a latent electrostatic image of the original.

In passing through the developer system 42, the copy is immersed in a liquid containing particles of toner material which adhere to the charged areas. Owing to the fact that the portion of the machine 10 just described does not itself fonm a part of my invention, it will not be described in detail. The copending application of Marvin Teutsch for Electrostatic Copier, Ser. No. 320,159, filed Oct. 30, 1963, now Patent No. 3,272,100, and the copending application of Vernon L. Marquart, Marvin Teutsch and I. K. Swigert for Developing System, Ser. No. 328,741, filed Dec. 6, 1963, describe this structure in more detail.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2, the developed shield 50 constantly wipes the roller 44 to prevent stray particles of toner from smudging or streaking the copy. The rollers `44 and 46 feed the developed copy to the fixing system, indicated generally by the reference character 52, of my machine. It will readily be appreciated that even after passage of the developed copy through the squeeze rolls 44 and 46, a stagnant film of toner vapor clings to the surfaces of the copy.

From the rollers 44 and 46 the copy passes to a belt ltransport system including belts 54 carried by rollers 56 and 5S supported in the machine yframe. As is more fully pointed out in the copending applications referred to hereinabove, a gear driven by a sprocket chain drives both rollers 46 and 56. The belt drive system comprising belts 54 carries the damp copy through the fixing system 52 and delivers it to a delivery tray 60. A roller 62 cooperates with roller 58 to control the copy as it leaves the fixing system 52.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 to 4, my fixing system 52 includes an upper duct 64 and a lower duct 66, which are supported in vertically spaced relationship by frame members 68 and 70 on the machine frame so as to form a space 72 through 'which the copy is carried by the belts 54.

I form the duct 64 from sheet metal with an upper half 74 and with a lower half 76, which halves are held in assembled relationship by any convenient means, such as by metal screws 78. The lower duct 66 comprises a bottom half 80 and a top half 82 assembled by screws 84. As can best be seen by reference to FIGURE 4, I form the bottom 76 of duct l64 and the top 82 of duct 66 with a pattern of perforations or holes 86.

I connect the youtlet opening 88 of a blower 90 to each of ducts 64 and 66 so that blower 90 delivers air under pressure to the ducts. A motor 92 is adapted to be energized to draw air into the blower 90 through an inlet opening 94 to deliver the air to the ducts 64 and 66. I dispose a heating element 96 in the inlet opening 94 to heat .the air being drawn into the blower 90. A thermostatic switch, indicated generally by the reference character 98, senses the temperature of the air within the upper duct 64 to control the heating element, lthus to regulate the temperature of the air. I so arrange my system that the aggregate area of all of the openings 86 in both ducts is about two-thirds the area of the outlet opening 88 of the blower 90. Thus, the air traveling `out of the openings 86 toward the paper has relatively high velocity which causes it to break up the vapor film on the paper.

In operation of the machine incorporating my fixing system, when the machine is turned on a copy is carried to the ready position between rollers 18 and 20 in a manner described in the eopending Teutsch application described Ihereinabove. When a copy is to be made, the original is inserted through opening 22 to the nip between feed rolls 24 and 26 which carry the original into the original transport sy'stem 30. As the original moves into this system, it restarts the copy paper feed system and the original and a sheet of copy paper move in synchronism through the machine. In the coures of this operation, the copy paper receives a charge as it passes through chamber 38. The charged paper and the original move in synchronism past windows 4t) and 32 and an image of the original is focused on the copy paper. The charge on the copy paper leaks off over the relatively lighter areas of the original image to leave the copy paper with a latent electrostatic image of the original. Where only a single copy is to be produced, the original travels through the rest of the system and is returned on tray 36. The copy paper is carried by system 28 up into the developer system 42 wherein the copy is subjected to the action of particles `of toner material which cling to the paper over those areas which have retained their charge. In this manner, the image of the original is developed on the copy paper. Owing to the fact that a liquid toner is employed, it leaves the system 42 while it is still wet and passes through squeeze rolls 44 and 46. These rolls squeeze most of the liquid out of the copy paper. However, even after passing through the nip between rolls 44 and 46, the paper is still damp and it has a stagnant film of liquid over the surfaces thereof.

After leaving the squeeze rolls 44 and 46, the damp copy enters my fixing system 52. As it enters the system, it is received by the belts 54 which carry it through the space 72 between the upper and lower ducts 64 and 66. Air drawn in through the intake 94 of blower 90 by the operation of motor 92 is carried over the heating element 96 which heats the air. Motor 92 drives the air into the ducts 64 and 66. This heated air is expelled outwardly through the openings or perforations 86 in the lower half 76 of the upper duct 64 and in the upper half 82 of the lower duct 66. Owing to the fact that the aggregate area of all of the perforations 86 is only about two thirds of the area of the outlet opening 88 of the blower, the jets of air emerging from the perforations 86 are of relatively high velocity. These high velocity jets break up the stagnant vapor films on the surface of the paper to dry the copy in a rapid and expeditious manner. The thermostatic switch 98 senses the temperature of the air within the duct 64 to control heater 96 to prevent the air from becoming so hot as to Scorch the copy.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a fixing system for a copy machine employing .a liquid developer which dries the copy produced in a rapid and expeditious manner. My system permits full advantage to be taken of the speed of operation of which the machine is capable. My fixing system achieves this purpose without danger of scorching the paper. It effectively breaks up the stagnant film of toner vapor on the copy paper.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a copying machine having a liquid developing system through which a sheet of copy material passes to develop a latent image thereon, a fixing zone, a pair of ducts, each of said ducts having a perforated wall, means mounting said ducts at said zone with said perforated walls facing each other with a narrow space therebetween, means extending through said space for supporting said sheet adjacent its edges and conveying said copy material through said space while leaving the major portion of the upper and under surfaces of said sheet exposed, and means for supplying air to said ducts to direct a multiplicity of jets of air through said perforations onto the upper and under surfaces of said sheet to break up vapor films on said surfaces to dry said sheet.

2. In a copying machine as in claim 1 in which said air supplying means is a blower having an outlet with a certain cross-sectional area and means connecting said blower outlet to said ducts, the aggregate area of said perforations being less than said certain area whereby said jets are of relatively high velocity.

3. In a copying machine as in claim 2 in which the aggregate area of said perforations is approximately two thirds of the area of said blower outlet.

4. In a copying machine as in claim 3 including means for heating the air supplied by said blower to said ducts and control means for sensing the temperature of the air in said ducts.

5. In a copying machine as in claim 1 including means for heating the air provided by said supplying means and are of relatively high velocity.

7. In a `copying machine as in claim 1 in which said NORTON ANSHER Plmmy Examiner' conveying and supporting means comprises a pair of nar- 10 F. L. BRAUN, Examiner.

row belts respectively located adjacent the lateral edges of said zone. 

1. IN A COPYING MACHINE HAVING A LIQUID DEVELOPING SYSTEM THROUGH WHICH A SHEET OF COPY MATERIAL PASSES TO DEVELOP A LATENT IMAGE THEREON, A FIXING ZONE, A PAIR OF DUCTS, EACH OF SAID DUCTS HAVING A PERFORATED WALL, MEANS MOUNTING SAID DUCTS AT SAID ZONE WITH SAID PERFORATED WALLS FACING EACH OTHER WITH A NARROW SPACE THEREBETWEEN, MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SPACE FOR SUPPORTING SAID SHEET ADJACENT ITS EDGES AND CONVEYING SAID COPY MATERIAL THROUGH SAID SPACE WHILE LEAVING THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE UPPER AND UNDER SURFACE OF SAID SHEET EXPOSED, AND MEANS FOR SUPPLYING AIR TO SAID DUCTS TO DIRECT A MULTIPLICITY OF JETS OF AIR THROUGH SAID PERFORATIONS ONTO THE UPPER AND UNDER SURFACES OF SAID SHEET TO BREAK UP VAPOR FILMS ON SAID SURFACES TO DRY SAID SHEET. 